Mariah Carey To Earn $18 Million As ‘American Idol’ Judge

Becky Bain | July 24, 2012 10:55 am

Mariah Carey is the latest pop diva to be added to the American Idol judges’ panel, and though yesterday’s reports said she would earn anywhere between $12 million (Jennifer Lopez‘s Idol salary) and $17 million, People reports that the singer will receive $18 million. That’s just for one season, with an option to renew. Would you expect anything less from the woman with the most #1 singles?

Mimi’s major payday makes her the highest paid judge in reality television. Right behind her is Britney Spears and Howard Stern, who makes $15 million each for their work on The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, respectively. (For comparison: Christina Aguilera makes $10 million for The Voice, while Demi Lovato nabbed $1 million for The X Factor.)

Who do you think Idol will hire for the other two judges’ positions (assuming that Randy Jackson isn’t coming back)? Or rather, the question really is — who can they even afford?